By James Grubel
CANBERRA (Reuters) - A defiant Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Friday pledged to push through key policies over the next six months win back popular support, a day after a major policy victory over a national broadband network.
After a year in power, Gillard's popular support is at record lows as she tries to secure support for two more key policies -- a carbon price and a mining tax.
"Anybody who thinks that I am going to fold because it is a bit tough out there has got me wrong, absolutely wrong," she told Australian radio.
Recent polls show the government support at a record low, with 60 percent of voters favouring the man she replaced, Kevin Rudd, as prime minister, compared to 31 percent for Gillard, figures which are fuelling speculation of a possible leadership challenge.
The ruling Labour Party elected Gillard prime minister on June 24, 2010, dumping Rudd and blaming him for stalled policies on carbon, a mining tax, and asylum seekers after a wave of refugee boat arrivals in Australia.
Despite the risk that a by-election or defection could lead to a change of government, Gillard has yet to lose a major vote in parliament. More than 140 bills have passed, including key bills from her government's first budget.
Gillard has also secured an A$11 billion deal for phone company Telstra to join the government's $38 billion National Broadband Network, clearing a major hurdle in the government's plan for a high-speed fibre-optic broadband network.
But the key reforms, including a deal with Malaysia to accept 800 asylum seekers, and the mining and carbon taxes, which are both due to start on July 1, 2012, have yet to be finalised and endorsed by parliament.
Gillard said all three policies remained on track. The government was in advanced talks with Malaysia over an asylum-seeker deal, and draft mining tax laws have been released with parliament due to debate the tax later in 2011.
She said the government was also close to announcing its plan to price carbon, starting with carbon tax and an emissions trade scheme in three to five years. Details are due in early July.
(Editing by Michael Perry and Jonathan Thatcher)
